Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 23 June, 21 July and 3 August 2020 from the hon. Member for East Londonderry, on extending maternity pay.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Treasury has passed this correspondence to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who are responsible for this policy.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for West Lancashire of 20 April 2020 on furlough for agency or bank staff at NHS Professionals.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Treasury responded to the Member’s letter on 24 July 2020.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun of 5 June 2020 on self support payments for sole trader directors paid by dividends.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Treasury responded to the Member’s letter on 7 August.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the standard of correspondence produced by the Correspondence and Enquiry Unit in his Department in response to enquiries raised during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
Since March, the Treasury has received over 18,000 items of correspondence from Honourable Members – the largest correspondence volume received of any Government department leading on coronavirus pandemic. Replying to this amount of correspondence while delivering targeted action to protect millions of jobs and livelihoods is a significant challenge for a department of around 1,500 staff. However, the Treasury ensures that every MP receives a timely, accurate and informative reply to their queries. On rare occasions, when MPs have said any replies from the Treasury have not fully covered the issue raised, the department has provided an additional reply covering any outstanding points as soon as possible.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2020 to Question 69593 on Members: Correspondence, when he plans to provide a substantive response to the matters raised in the letter from the hon. Member for Glasgow Central of 6 May 2020 in relation to the covid-19 outbreak on food and drink wholesalers.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Treasury responded to the Member’s letter on 21 June. The reply outlined the support available to food and drink wholesalers. However, given recent announcements which have enabled the reopening of the hospitality sector, I have asked officials to review your letter of 6 May and provide another updated reply shortly.
Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letters of 8 April 2020, 12 May 2020 and 18 June 2020 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on Mr Alan Bates.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Treasury has received a huge volume of additional correspondence in recent months and is sorry for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. Officials will respond as soon as possible.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 6 April 2020, reference DL5296, from the hon. Member for Glasgow East.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. HM Treasury passed the Honourable Member’s correspondence to HM Revenue and Customs as it concerns an operational issue. HM Revenue and Customs will reply as soon as possible.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his Department’s policy to respond to all correspondence from Members of Parliament with (a) a generic Dear Colleague letter months after the initial query or (b) a detailed and prompt answer addressing the points that have been raised by that Member.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
It is the Treasury’s policy to respond to correspondence from Members with an individual reply that addresses the points the member has raised, within 15 working days. However, the unprecedented volumes of correspondence received since the outbreak of COVID-19 has caused delays in responding.
Detailed Dear Colleague letters have occasionally been issued to Members to update them on changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and to help them reply to their constituents as quickly as possible. The Treasury is working with any Members who have highlighted they cannot use the Dear Colleague letter to reply to their constituents and will provide a further reply to those Members as soon as possible.
Asked by: Neil Gray (Scottish National Party - Airdrie and Shotts)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter of 13 May 2020 from the hon. Member for Airdrie and Shotts, reference NG12034.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Honourable Member’s correspondence was transferred from Number 10 to HM Treasury on 18 May. The Treasury responded via email on 11 June.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the letter sent on 8 April 2020 regarding the hon. Member for North Durham's constituent, Julie Mullen.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
Unforuntately the Treasury is not able to locate correspondence sent on 8 April 2020 regarding the Honourable Member for North Durham's constituent, Julie Mullen. Treasury officials have contacted the Honourable Members constituency office requesting a copy is sent by email.